Surely any application that potentially puts out contractually binding
information would have to be built with the BTP architecture to cover this
sort of issue, so that it has a sensible application delivery framework to
make the designers / programmers consider this.
tc
----- Original Message -----
From: "Fraser David" <david_a_fraser@hotmail.com>
To: <www-ws-arch@w3.org>
Sent: Tuesday, April 16, 2002 5:56 PM
Subject: Infinite Loops and webservices
> I have an idiot question:
> Given how loosely coupled webservices and their clients can be and the
high
> degree of dynamicity(?) there can be in choosing webservices could it be
> possible that infinite loops could occur between companies?
> e.g.
> Company X manufactures widgits
> Company Y manufactures widgits
> Company Z is a retailer of widgits
>
> Company Z runs out of widgits and through dynamically searching through a
> UDDI registry determines that Company X has the best price for widgets.
> Company X does not have enough widgets to immediately fulfill the order
but
> instead informing the client of this Company X's webservice has been
> programmed to search for another widget manufacturer (Company Y) in the
UDDI
> registry and buy the widgets at
> cost thereby keeping the business of Company Z. Company Y only has 1
widget
> left. Unfortunately its webservice has been programmed to search for the
> cheapest widget manufacturer in the UDDI registry if it does not have
enough
> widgets to complete a sale. As Company X has the
> cheapest widgets it invokes it's webservice. This completes the loop and
> Company X and Y end up ordering 6 bazillion widgets from each other to
> fulfill Company Z's need for only a couple of widgets.
>
> D.
>
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Join the world's largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail.
> http://www.hotmail.com
>
>